Pour spout for containers

Abstract

A pour spout fitment for a flat top or a gable top paperboard container. A flat strip of rigid plastic material is bent over upon itself to form upper and lower strips integrally hinged together. The lower strip carries a plug coplanar with it, the upper surface of the plug adhered to a part of the lower surface of the upper, hinged strip. The lower surface of the plug is sealed to a portion of a barrier extrusion which covers the entire interior surface of the container, the plug being aligned with a dispensing opening through the paperboard, the opening also covered by the barrier extrusion material. For initial opening and dispensing of the container contents, the upper strip is pulled upwardly, carrying with it the plug and the ruptured barrier extrusion material adhered to the plug. The surfaces of the lower strip over which the contents of the container flow during dispensing are thus protected from contamination at all times except during dispensing. In other embodiments, the upper strip is adhered to a second plug, similar to the first, and a vent hole is defined upon initial opening. In still another modification, the forward edge of the fitment extends beyond the carton edge to prevent dripping. A tamper evident tab may be provided on any embodiment, the tab being integral with the upper strip. The tab must pulled up and a seal broken between it and an associated carton wall to permit opening of the carton.

We claim: 
     
       1. A frangible seal construction for a container formed from paperboard and adapted to carry a liquid therein, the container having a flat wall portion and a pouring aperture extending therethrough, a rupturable barrier layer seal on the carton interior surfaces and covering the aperture, a rigid lower flap strip having a hinged upper flap, the upper flap lying on top of the lower rigid strip, the rigid lower flap strip being secured to and on top of the exterior surface of the container at said flat wall portion and overlying said aperture, said lower rigid strip having a removable plug formed from it, the plug being of a size complementary to and overlying said aperture, the upper surface of the plug secured to the lower surface of said upper hinged flap, the lower surface of the plug secured to that portion of the rupturable barrier layer seal which covers said opening, whereby when the upper hinged flap is pulled upwardly, it carries therewith the plug in parallel relationship thereto and the barrier layer seal is broken to thereby uncover the pouring aperture and the contents of the container can be dispensed through the pour aperture and whereby the plug can be pushed back to its original in said lower flap strip. 
     
     
       2. The seal construction of claim 1 wherein the upper hinged flap is integrally secured to the lower rigid strip. 
     
     
       3. The seal construction of claim 1 wherein the forward edge of the lower rigid strip extends beyond an associated container side wall to thereby inhibit dripping. 
     
     
       4. The seal construction of claim 1 wherein the lower rigid strip extends beyond an associated container side wall and parallel thereto, to thereby form a downwardly extending pour flap, to thereby inhibit dripping. 
     
     
       5. The seal construction of claim 1 wherein the forward end of the upper rigid strip carries a hinged tab, the tab extending over the forward end of the lower rigid strip and is normally secured to an associated container wall by a seal, whereby the seal must be broken to permit opening of the container. 
     
     
       6. The seal construction of claim 1 wherein said plug effects a snap reclosure by virtue of an interference fit between the periphery of said plug and the edge of said opening. 
     
     
       7. The frangible seal construction of claim 1 including a second aperture extending through the flat wall portion, the second aperture being a venting aperture, the barrier layer seal also normally covering the venting aperture, the upper hinged flap also overlying the venting aperture, the venting aperture having a removable plug formed from the lower rigid strip, the plug being of a size complimentary to and overlying the venting aperture, the lower surface of the second mentioned plug secured to the rupturable barrier layer, the upper surface of the second mentioned plug secured to the upper hinged flap. 
     
     
       8. The seal construction of claim 7 wherein the upper hinged flap is integrally secured to the lower rigid strip. 
     
     
       9. The seal construction of claim 1 wherein the upper hinged flap is integrally secured to an intermediate rigid strip, the latter positioned on top of the first mentioned, lower rigid strip. 
     
     
       10. The seal of claim 9 including a second upper hinged flap secured to the intermediate rigid strip, the second hinged flap overlying a respective venting aperture in said flat wall portion and secured to a second removable plug in the first mentioned, lower rigid strip, said second plug overlying the venting aperture, the interior barrier layer seal secured to the bottom of said second removable plug. 
     
     
       11. The seal construction of claim 1 wherein said upper flap is rigid. 
     
     
       12. The seal construction of claim 11 wherein said lower and upper flaps are formed from a single strip of a plastic material.